From Brazil: More commitment and solidarity with Cuba

With hugs and combative calls, the 27th National Convention of Solidarity with Cuba concluded this Saturday at the Federal University of the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo, after three intense days of debates, condemnations of the blockade, and renewed commitments.

In the first minutes of the final day, Argentine Norberto Galiotti, of the Continental Network of Solidarity with Cuba, denounced the criminal nature of the US siege and the inclusion of the island on the unilateral list of state sponsors of terrorism.

"Both are scourges that must be rejected from any platform," he urged an audience that responded with prolonged applause and shouts of "Cuba yes, blockade no!"

Minutes later, the vice president of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), Víctor Gaute, called for deeper coordination and increased active solidarity, recalling a phrase from leader Fidel Castro: "Whoever is not capable of doing for others will not be capable of doing for themselves."

His speech, imbued with historical memory and ethical principles, called for the creation of broader networks in the face of the economic and media siege imposed on Cuba.

Fernanda Tandim, the event's general coordinator and a key figure in the solidarity movement in Espírito Santo, moved everyone with her remarks: she announced the consolidation of a network of Brazilian unions ready to channel donations, supplies, and all kinds of concrete support to Cuba.

"Nothing ends here; on the contrary, a new stage of conscious and organized solidarity begins here," she said, her voice breaking, while the audience responded with a chant of "Cuba is not alone!"

Veteran social activist Edival Caja, a leader of the solidarity movement in the state of Pernambuco, also spoke.

A victim of torture during the military dictatorship (1964–1985), Caja paid tribute to the resilience of the Cuban Revolution, "a nation that, 90 miles from the empire, has remained dignified, humane, and supportive of the peoples of the world."

He recalled his first contact with the Cuban example and described it as "a beacon in the darkness of Latin America."

The closing ceremony marked three days of intense political, cultural, and educational activities, in which delegations from various Brazilian states and representatives from other countries shared experiences, reaffirmed commitments, and articulated new strategies to strengthen the international campaign against the blockade.

Those present also advocated for highlighting Cuba's social achievements and dismantling disinformation campaigns.

The convention strengthened the narrative that supporting Cuba is not an isolated act, but rather part of the global struggle for a world of peace, in defense of the sovereignty and self-determination of peoples.